Sign and advertising device



T.SAPP-. SIGN AND ADVERTISING nEvlcE.

APPLICATION FILED- DEC. I0, 1921.

Patented Aug. 8, 1922;

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THQMAS SAPJP, OF LONDON, ENG-LAND.

SIG-N AND ADVERTISING.- DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 10, 1921. Serial No. 521,454..

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, THOMAS SAPP, a British subject, residing at 24 Essex Street, Strand, London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signs and Advertising Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates primarily to an improved sign intended for use in such places as theatres, railway stations, or on ships where the amount of available illumination is diminished or is designedly dim. In such places, the available light is usually directed from elevated or laterally disposed sources, and the object of my inventionis to provide an improved sign which shall have maximum visibility without requiring to be tilted to any great extent from the vertical.

. According to my invention I provide a sign having a ribbed front glass and a ribbed reflector situated closely behind said front glass, the 'ribs of the two members being arran ed transversely to each other, and one sur ace of one of said members be ing suitably blackened according to an advertising or other design.

In the preferred form, both surfaces of the front glass are provided with horizontal ribs, and the rear reflector is-formed 0 glass having vertical ribs on both surfaces, the rear surface of the said reflector being silvered and the two glass panels being in contact. I do not, however, wish to be limited to horizontal and vertical ribs, as the ribs of the two elements may cross each other at any desired angle. Further, the reflector may be formed of corrugated metal 'or of any other suitable material if desired. 1

In the preferred form, the rear surface of the front glass is 'stencilled so as to leave the design clear, but thefdesign may be blackened and the background left clear if desired, and the stencilling may be performed on any other suitable surface of.

either the front glass or the reflector.

An example of one manner of carrying the invention into effect is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 illustrates an elevation; Figs. 2 and 3 sections along the lines A-A, and B--B respectively of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4: .is an enlarged sectional detail, showing a modified form of rib. v I

Referring now to the drawing, the sign f this purpose.

'night in darkened shop comprises two glass plates 1, 2 held in a frame 3 provided with lugs 4:. The front surface of the front plate 1 is provided With horizontal ribs or corrugations 5 and the rear surface is also similarly ribbed. The rear surface is blacked, with the exception of the lettering, where it is left transparent. The rear plate 2 is provided on both surfaces with oppositely placed vertical corrugations 6 as shown and its rear surface is silvered, the silvering being visible when the sign is in use, through the clear lettering of the front plate.

I prefer that the lettering or ground work- Patented Aug. 8, 1922.

material capable of reflecting light to a satisfactory extent.

Preferably, the glass plates in the formthe top bar 7 of the frame 3 made detach- I able so that both plates may be slipped in and out as desired. Alternatively, any other suitable means may be employed for Ob iously, if desired, the letterin ma be blackened and the ground Work e le t transparent to display the silvering. Further, the term blackened is to be understood as covering the use of any, opaque composition of any suitable or effective colour. I y

The invention is of particular v'alue in connection with advertising signs'intended to be mounted on the backs of seats in theatres or other similar places where it is not permitted to mount the sign at an angle with the vertical owing to the obstruction that would be caused to the free passage of the ublic behind the seats.

T e invention is also a plicable for use at ronts lit onl by a small light or by the ight of street lamps. Thus the sign is adapted to reflect light from a casual elevated source and also light from a casual lateral source.

The ribs and glass need not necessarily be laterally symmetrical in cross section in cases where the available .light will fall upon-the glassfrom a known fixed direction, and ll I may for instance arrange to behind the other with ribs on one sheet have one wall of the ribs plane and the other Wall of the ribs outwardly convex as shown enlarged in Fig. 4.

I claim I 1. In a' sign the combination of a front glass having ribs formed upon it and a reflector having ribs formed upon it, said "reflector being situated closely behind said front glass, the ribs upon the front glass and the ribs upon the reflector being arranged transversely to each other, and one surface of one of said members being partially blackened according to a predetermined design.

' 2. In a sign, the combination of a plural: ity of sheets of ribbed glass arranged one crossing those on an adjacent sheet, the rear surface of the rear glass being mirrored, and sign characters on one of said glass portions. q

3, In a sign adapted for use without special means, for illumination, .the combination of a sheet of glass provided with ribs to refract light from a casual source, a sheet of glass adapted for substantial surface contact with the first sheet of glass and probeing arranged transverse y to each other,

and one surface of one of said members being partially blackened according to a predetermined design. 5. In a sign the combination of a front ture,

glass having ribs formed upon both its surfaces and a glass reflector having ribs formed upon both its surfaces, said reflectorbeing situated closely behind said front glass, the ribs upon the front glass and the ribs upon the reflector being arranged trans-' I versely to each other, and one surface of one of said members being partially blackened according to a predetermined design.

6. In a sign, the combination of a front glass havin ribs formed on both surfaces and a rear g asshaving ribs formed onboth its surfaces, the rear wall of the front glass being blacked according to a design and the-rear Wall of therear glass being mir-' rored.

7. In a signa'dapted for use without special means for illumination, a sheet of glass 7 provided with ribs arranged to reflect light from a casual eleyated source, a sheet of glass adapted to contact with the first men tioned sheet of glass and formed with ribs to. reflect light from a casual lateral source,

a back reflecting surface, and means to render a portion of the sign opaque to display a desi n.

8. n a sigh, a front transparent sheet having ribs on'both its surfaces, a reflector in the rear of the front sheet and arrangedclosely adjacent thereto, said reflector hav-.

ing' r1bs arranged at an angle to the ribs on the front transparent sheet, one of the surfaces thus provided having outlined thereon a predeterminedsign design, the angular arrangement of the respective ribs serving to reflect 1i ht from different casual sources for the ilumination of the slgn.

In testimony whereof I affix my signa- THOMAS sAPP; I 

